It’s really exasperating to see fuel prices skyrocketing, right? We can only feel helpless in the face of recurring and economy-driven price fluctuations. Seeking measures to improve fuel economy is the only way to combat rising fuel prices. Do not disregard these simple guidelines; each little step can really start adding up to significant savings to your budget.

Check Tyre Pressure

Keeping the tyres well inflated is one of the simplest things you can do to help improve your car’s fuel efficiency. You can improve the mileage by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tyres inflated properly, according to the DOE.

Lighten Your Load

Empty out your boot of unnecessary items. For every extra 45 kg you carry, your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2% in a typical vehicle.

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The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Driving within the speed limit recommended by the manufacturer helps save fuel. Driving just 5mph over the speed limit can affect fuel economy by up to 23%. Likewise, quick acceleration consumes too much fuel; accelerate slowly and gradually.

Do Fuel Quality/Types/Additives Help Mileage?

Petrol pump attendants often try to convince you to go for ‘Speed petrol’ or ‘X-tra Mile diesel’. But this need not necessarily help improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Always use the grade recommended for the vehicle by the manufacturer. Higher octane fuel may not only be a waste of money but may harm the vehicle, as well. However sticking to one brand of fuel is always good for the engine. Know more about Octane Ratings

Tune Your Engine

A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4%. So change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

Clean the Air Filters Regularly

Air filters keep impurities from damaging your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve fuel economy by as much as 10%.

Keep the Windows Closed

Driving with your windows open considerably reduces mileage, far more than keeping the AC on while driving along highways. So preferably keep the windows closed and the AC on if you want to keep cool. Of course the air-conditioning decreases fuel efficiency considerably, so use it judiciously. Windows down or A/C on — which is more fuel-efficient?

Clean Spark Plugs

Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires at intervals specified by the manufacturer. This will keep all cylinders firing properly resulting in higher efficiency.

Don’t Be a Clutch-Driver

Never keep your foot on the clutch while driving. When you do this, pressure is being placed on your clutch, and it not only reduces mileage, but also wears out the clutch plate, replacing which is not cheap.

Keep the Car in Showroom Condition

It’s always prudent to keep the car in the showroom condition. Remember that any modification to the car, such as broad tyres, diffusers etc., will adversely affect the mileage.

(1) Chief Executive Officers: With the average annual earnings of more than 196,000 euros per annum, chief executives are the most earning of all professionals. Although it requires only a bachelor’s degree but your experience will ultimately decide the number of digits on your salary check. The openings are keenly contested because a lot qualified persons apply for these openings.

(2) Physicians and Surgeons: This is considered a very noble profession in many cultures and physicians and surgeons earn on an average more than 113,000 euros a year. It requires a bachelor’s degree in medicine and an internship period of more 3 – 7 years to earn decently. In many countries, there is often a licensing exam before a medical student can start practicing.

(3) Dentists: Dentists treat problems relating to the teeth or the mouth and their average income is about 109,000 euros per annum. There is a licensing exam after passing from a dental school.

(4) Lawyer: It normally takes a bachelor’s degree with three years at a law school to sit in a state bar examination before one can become a lawyer. The competition for openings is keen because a number of students graduate from law schools each year. Lawyers earn on an average around 103,000 euros per annum.

(5) Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers: It takes at least 250 – 1500 hours of flight experience to earn a commercial pilot’s licence. Bigger and more reputed airlines often present them with tough competition, so most of the newly-graduated opt for regional airlines. A typical airline pilot or a flight engineer earns more than 98,000 euros a year.

(6) Engineering Managers: The task of engineering managers is to supervise a team of technicians to develop new products. The average salary of engineering managers is about 92,000 euros per annum. A bachelor’s degree is required and professional experience matters a lot.

(7) Securities and commodities sales agents: There is a licensing exam to enter this profession. It takes a bachelor’s degree with an attitude towards business administration to sit in the licensing exam. A securities and commodities sales agent earns about 90,000 euros per annum.

(8) Computers and Information system managers: It takes advanced degrees in technology along with good knowledge of business to enter the field. Thorough technical knowledge is must. There are a lot of job opportunities in the field. The average salary in this field is about 86,000 euros per annum.

(9) Marketing and Sales Manager: These men are responsible for conducting market research, making market strategies and promoting their companies’ products. A master’s degree is normally preferred by reputed employers and liberal arts background is highly sought for. The average salary of a marketing and sales manager is around 81,000 euros.

(10) Optometrists: These are health care professional that treat eye and eye-related diseases. There is a license exam to be passed and one is eligible to sit for the exam after earning a bachelor’s degree and four years of study at an optometry school. The income of an optometrist on an average is 81,000 euros a year and the demand for optometrists is only going to increase in the coming years.

(1) Engineer: An engineer is defined as a professional who applies the established principles of mathematics and science to find economical solution(s) to a technical problem. It normally requires a bachelor’s degree for an entry level job; however, some research positions may require advanced degrees.

(2) Machine Operators: Also known as machinists, their function is to operate heavy machines. Employers usually take contenders with high-school diplomas and basic computer education is also helpful in getting the employment. Machine operators work on machines which produce tools, transportation equipment and other kinds of machinery.

(3) Skilled Manual Trades: There is a stigma attached to the manual trades in many societies especially in the semi-developed societies of Asia and Africa. These trades are often held in low prestige and because of this many skilled artisans have already left the trade. But the art is highly appreciated by the collectors on the European continent and it is only because of this that few surviving artisans make their living. The recent economic boom in Asia has made the demand for the skilled manual artists to shoot up but they are in short supply.

(4) Technicians: A technician can be considered as someone in between a layman and an engineer. A person who has a thorough understanding of the theoretical principles along with the practical understanding is referred to as a technician. Technicians are found in a number of fields; from medicine to art industry.

(5) Sales Representatives: There are a multitude of jobs for the right kind of people but the employers usually find it hard to locate good sales representatives. The earnings of a sales representative are susceptible to market fluctuations. There is usually no formal education specified to become a sales person but many of the employers prefer a bachelor’s degree.

(6) Accounting and Finance Staff: These people are responsible for gathering information needed to do a particular job, process data, monitor and control how the resources are used, to organise and the plan work etc. It takes at least a bachelor’s degree with emphasis on business administration and accounting or finance as subjects; although some employers prefer to hire candidates with a master’s degree. With the economies of Asian and Latin American countries growing fast, the demand for the accounting and financial staff is going to remain high in the near future.

(7) Mechanics: A mechanic is a professional, who has been trained to repair and work on mechanical equipment. Mechanics are often considered as semi-engineers because although they are educated, their educational credentials aren’t as high as that of engineers. Mechanics can earn decent money given the scarcity of good mechanics.

(8) Labourers: Labourers are people who do physical work either by hands or using simple equipment. The advent of 21st century hasn’t exactly brought along with it machines which make manual labour totally redundant. There is no specified qualification to become a labourer; in this field experience is of prime importance.

(9) IT Staff: Sometimes, it is jokingly said that the Soviet Union collapsed because of the lack of trained IT professionals who could keep up with the Americans. Although a joke, it does indicate how important a role does the IT technology play in the modern world. It is a multi billion dollar industry and it growing by leaps and bounds, which makes the requirement for the trained IT staff to shoot up and makes these kinds of jobs among the hardest to fill.

(10) Production Operators: These people are responsible for operating the machinery on the production line. The term ‘production operator’ is a generic term which encompasses a wide range of machinery and products. The qualification usually depends upon the kind of work that the employer needs.